Sailor Moon’s Naoko Takeuchi Releases New Artwork for Usagi & Chibiusa

The iconic shojo manga series Sailor Moon has received all-new birthday artwork from original creator Naoko Takeuchi for the franchise’s official store. The new color illustration commemorates the birthday of two of the manga’s most beloved characters, Usagi Tsukino and Chibiusa.

Via X (formerly Twitter), the new color illustration of Sailor Moon‘s Usagi and Chibiusa was released for their birthday on June 30. The post was captioned, “Today is Tsukino Usagi and Chibiusa’s birthday. The Sailor Moon store received a celebratory color paper from Naoko Takeuchi. Thank you, Takeuchi-sensei. The colored paper is currently on display at the Sailor Moon store. Please come and visit us.” Readers can learn all the Sailor Guardians’ heights, canon ages and birthdays here.

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Sailor Moon’s Usagi and Chibiusa Receive New Naoko Takeuchi Birthday Artwork

Sailor Moon’s Official Store Is Home to a Range of New & Exclusive Merchandise

The Sailor Moon Store in Tokyo is host to a range of original artwork by Takeuchi, least of all the 200-page compendium of over 700 illustrations from her decades-long career: Sailor Moon: Raisonne Art Works (1991-2023). Inside the store, fans will find framed highlights of Raisonne artwork and frequent debuts of new art in unconventional ways, like the Sailor Moon Store Original Mug. Earlier this year, Takeuchi also released four new postcard illustrations of Usagi Tsukino, Chibiusa Tsukino (Black Lady form) and Mamoru Chiba. These came with a special effect, creating an aurora when hit with light.

This aurora effect is becoming a staple of new merchandise at the Sailor Moon Store; two new store-exclusive t-shirts were released both in-store and online on June 22, 2024. While fans are spoiled for choice with white and black colorways, the sole constant remains the stunning aurora effect on the front logo, creating a rainbow as it moves. The store also sells bottles, tumblers, figures and even good luck amulets, many of these items featuring designs for both Usagi and Chibiusa. Despite their chummy appearance in the above artwork, their relationship in the series is often strained, with Usagi’s treatment of her daughter unsurprisingly ranked in CBR’s 10 Worst Things Usagi Did in Sailor Moon.

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Kodansha USA licenses both Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, describing the legendary magical-girl series: “Usagi Tsukino is a normal girl until she meets up with Luna, a talking cat, who tells her that she is Sailor Moon. As Sailor Moon, Usagi must fight evils and enforce justice, in the name of the Moon and the mysterious Moon Princess. She meets other girls destined to be Sailor Senshi (Sailor Scouts), and together, they fight the forces of evil!”

Sailor Moon

A tale of magic, friendship, and destiny unfolds as a clumsy teenage girl named Usagi Tsukino discovers her true identity as Sailor Moon, a guardian destined to protect Earth from dark forces. Alongside her fellow Sailor Guardians—each with their own unique powers and personalities—Usagi battles various enemies sent by the evil Queen Beryl and the Dark Kingdom. As they uncover secrets from their past lives and the legendary Silver Millennium, the team must unite to defend the world and find the elusive Silver Crystal.

Author

Naoko Takeuchi

Artist

Naoko Takeuchi

Release Date

February 17, 1992

Genre

Magical Girl

Volumes

29

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Source: X (formerly Twitter)